KISSIMMEE, FLA. — For most of the winter, manager Cecil Cooper envisioned countless scenarios as he pondered the pitching and catching questions the Astros face this spring. Those two areas are littered with unresolved issues, and the club likely will need all seven weeks of spring training and some of the season to figure them out. Cooper starts the quest for answers today when the Astros open their 25th camp at Osceola County Stadium with workouts for pitchers and catchers. “You hope this and you hope that, but you got to see them,” Cooper said. “That gets you feeling good when you see them (and) when you hear the mitt popping and all that stuff. I can’t wait.” Mitts were popping Friday at Osceola County Stadium, where closer Jose Valverde and Felipe Paulino threw light bullpen sessions, and Brian Moehler, Doug Brocail, LaTroy Hawkins, Brandon Backe, Geoff Geary, Chris Sampson, Fernando Nieve, Humberto Quintero and Lou Palmisano worked out. After a 90-minute meeting with his coaching staff, front office and key spring training personnel, Cooper got some positive news when Valverde told him he planned on skipping the World Baseball Classic to focus on being ready for the season. “He’s a big part of what we do,” Cooper said. “He is the stabilizer. He is the anchor. That’s great that he wants to be here and be a part of this and not be concerned with going to pitch over there. That’s great. “He’s committed to us and our season, and that’s great. Not that it’s not important to pitch for the WBC, but that shows his commitment here. “He looks in pretty good shape, too. … Yeah, great shape. You can tell he’s pretty excited. He’s already thrown a bullpen already, so I’m sure he’s probably happy to have all that contract stuff behind him, also.” Valverde, who topped the majors in saves in 2007 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, led the National League with 44 saves last season for the Astros. He’s set to become a free agent next winter, and he’s eager to put together a stellar season in 2009. “I have to prepare myself well because I’m a free agent next year,” Valverde said. “By staying here, they’re checking me here and are more informed of all the work that I’m doing. If I’m in the Classic, they don’t see me, but I’m not saying they don’t work at the Classic. “But I’m ready. I’m focused on my job. The vacation is over.” Valverde threw a 10-minute bullpen session to Palmisano, the young catcher the Astros acquired from the Baltimore Orioles in December shortly after he was taken in the Rule 5 draft. Barring a trade or free-agent signing, Palmisano will compete with Toby Hall and J.R. Towles to back up Quintero, who enters camp as the favorite to at least earn one of the two catching positions on the 25-man roster. There’s no denying pitching is the key to winning, but calling great games behind the plate might be just as crucial. And this spring, the Astros have questions in both areas. “Kind of the biggest question mark we have going into our season is our pitching and our catching situation,” Cooper said. “And we’re getting to see them right off the bat, you know, and see what they can do. “There’s some people that I don’t know, and I get the chance to see them and see what they might be able to add to us as we go forward. “I’m pretty excited about seeing them. That’s the exciting part of all this. You get the chance to start out right away with these guys and see what they can do.” jesus.ortiz@chron.com